UNDERUTILIZATION OF HEALTH-SERVICES AMONG PATIENTS WITH URINARY SYMPTOMS - RESULTS OF A POPULATION-BASED SURVEY IN ISRAEL

BACKGROUND. Although there is firm evidence concerning the relatively- high rates of overutilization of prostate surgery among elderly men, o nly minimal efforts have been made to evaluate the existence and exten t of underutilization. This assessment, accomplished by our study, may have a significant impact on health services planning and budgeting. METHODS. The study population comprised a nationwide representative sa mple of 960 Israeli men, aged between 45 and 75 years. Data were accum ulated by personal interviews conducted at the homes of the individual s by trained staff. The questions included in the questionnaire aimed at describing the sociodemographic and clinical status. The responses to questions regarding male urinary symptoms were obtained by personal reports. RESULTS. Forty-three percent of the subjects reported having experienced urinary symptoms, but only 4.6% were severely bothered by the symptoms on a daily basis, and 8.9% were moderately bothered. Onl y 55.4% of patients with bothersome urinary symptoms visited their gen eral practitioners, while only 39.7% were referred to a urologist beca use of their complaints. CONCLUSIONS. Elderly men bothered by urinary symptoms frequently do not seek health care. An educational program re garding the potential benefit of medical interventions for benign pros tatic hypertrophy may significantly improve their quality of life. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.